(421j) Prediction of Agglomeration and Breakage of Fine Cohesive Powders Using DEM

The discrete element method (DEM) is employed to study the particle and collision parameters that effect agglomeration and breakage of Group A and C particles. Gas-solid flows of Group A and C particles are affected by inter-particle cohesive forces, allowing the formation of agglomerates. Previous works have explored continuum modeling of flows of Group A and C particles, predicting agglomerate sizes utilizing population balance equations, such as the direct quadrature method of moments (DQMOM).  This model utilizes source and sink terms in the continuity and momentum balance equations of the solid phase, which are dependent on the probability that a particle collision results in an agglomeration or breakage event, quantified by the success factors of agglomeration and breakage. Previous explorations of the DQMOM population balance equations have assumed constant success factors, while intuition suggests this parameter will be dependent on particle and collision properties including the bond number and impact velocity. This work focuses on better predicting the success factors of agglomeration and breakage via DEM simulations in an effort to better predict agglomerate properties in continuum models.